Queenslanders will back Titans: Prince

With the Broncos and Cowboys out of the finals hunt Scott Prince believes Queensland
rugby league fans will rally behind the Gold Coast Titans with State of Origin-like
intensity.
"It's a good feeling knowing we'll be carrying the expectations of all
Queenslanders," said Prince, who'll play with the aid of a pre-game pain-killing
injection.
"It's just unfortunate the Broncos didn't make it and the Cowboys as well.
"I think there might be a bit of a State of Origin feel about it (the Titans)."
The Titans will fly the Queensland flag with Prince and utility Mat Rogers sharing
the opinion the team is better equipped to win the grand final than last season when
they lost their qualifying final 40-32 to Brisbane before being eliminated in the
semi-finals 27-2 by Parramatta.
"Last year was a massive learning curve and only time will tell if we've learned
from it," said Prince, still hurting from last year's straight sets finals exit.
"It was tough, making the finals for the first time and bowing out after two games
was very hard to swallow.
"That's still sitting in the back of my mind for sure."
Prince (shoulder) and the other half of the Titans' dynamic duo, Preston Campbell
(hamstring), were supremely confident on Monday of playing in Friday night's first
qualifying final at Skilled Park.
So too was retiring utility Mat Rogers, battling a hip injury, who said the 2010
Titans had the belief they could go all the way after lessons learned last year.
"I think we all believe we can do it, I definitely do," said Rogers, who'll get
another farewell from a packed Skilled Park crowd on Friday night.
"The big difference though is we're a much better team.
"We were a team last year, but we're a lot tighter as a group now."
Rogers revealed he was concerned before last week's game against Wests Tigers that
his hip injury could derail his farewell finals campaign.
"It's only going to get better from here but I was genuinely concerned about it
before last Friday's game," he said.
"I was real worried but very happy I got through it."